'Nutmag' anthology celebrates Penang writers with bumper 5th anniversary issue
NutMag – an annual zine which celebrates Penang writers – is back with its largest collection of offerings to mark its fifth anniversary. “We wanted to do something to celebrate the MYWriters Penang’s and NutMag zine’s fifth year of existence. "Submissions are also only limited to those who are currently based in Penang or were born in Penang. Tan, who currently heads MYWriters, says NutMag began as a platform to promote published and unpublished writers in Penang as well as nurture those aspiring to enter the literary world. In the meantime, NutMag and MYWriters Penang will continue to welcome new writers and look forward to the year ahead, despite challenges posed by the pandemic.
Source:The Star
February 15, 2021 03:11 UTC
Foreign funds net sellers at RM40.5m in week ended Feb 11
MIDF said the market saw net foreign outflow for the first half of the week followed by net inflow for the subsequent half. The largest net buying was on Monday at RM123.09mil and largest net outflow was recorded on Thursday at -RM14.32mil. Meanwhile, Top Glove saw the largest net money outflow of RM11.19mil last week. Sime Plantation recorded the second largest net money outflow RM7.41mil during the week under review. Petronas Chemicals registered the third largest net money outflow of RM7.25mil.
Source:The Star
February 15, 2021 02:08 UTC
Leveraging key strengths to thrive in global market
This is also the core focus for the upcoming webinar titled Halal Export Opportunities, the second online live event under the Export Excellence Awards (EEA) 2021 Webinar Series. He added, “The global economy is expected to recover in 2021, but it may take some time to return to end-2019 levels. Leveraging his experience in Asia FX, Divya provides views on the latest developments in FX markets and recommends trade ideas and hedging strategies for institutional and corporate clients. Opportunities in halal industry: Bilal will be part of a panel discussing the areas with the most potential for businesses. EEA 2021 is organised by Star Media Group in partnership with Standard Chartered, with Matrade as patron.
Source:The Star
February 15, 2021 01:18 UTC
Fund to encourage empathy
The gist of the proposal was that the Chest is to be instituted by the government and then organised and run by the rakyat for the rakyat. Their only condition seemed to that such an undertaking must ensure maximum benefit for the people with zero wastage or leakage. One successful similar set up is the Community Chest of Hong Kong which was established under a trust and operated by prominent members of society and philanthropists. To ensure maximum benefit to the needy public, we could ensure that every sen received as donations will go to help the needy. The scheme will foster unity, encourage empathy and a sense of community at a time when we see attempts to polarise, stigmatise and radicalise segments of the population.
Source:The Star
February 15, 2021 00:22 UTC
Reaching new heights amid pandemic
When the pandemic spread to Malaysia, the Chinese showed their goodwill in return. China has continued to be Malaysia’s largest trading partner for the 12th consecutive year while Malaysia became the dragon nation’s second largest trading partner in Asean, after Vietnam. And vice-versa, it was Malaysia’s largest import source, recording a total value of RM226bil. “Of the total, more than 60% (RM10.72bil) was from exports, ” she added at the Malaysia-China (Lanzhou) Agricultural Products Trading webinar. Apart from trade, Nushirwan said both countries could bring the comprehensive strategic partnership to the next level via cultural linkages.
Source:The Star
February 15, 2021 00:11 UTC
Elon Musk says he supports top Dogecoin holders selling most of their coins
(Feb 15): Billionaire Elon Musk said on Sunday that he supports major holders of the meme-based digital currency Dogecoin selling most of their coins, adding that he felt too much concentration in Dogecoin was the "real issue". "If major Dogecoin holders sell most of their coins, it will get my full support. Too much concentration is the only real issue imo", Musk said in a tweet https://bit.ly/3aj5LEd. A well-known supporter of cryptocurrencies, Musk has weighed in regularly on the recent frenzy in retail investment, driving up prices of Dogecoin and shares of U.S. video game chain GameStop. Musk's electric vehicle company Tesla Inc revealed on Feb. 8 it had bought $1.5 billion of the cryptocurrency bitcoin and would soon accept it as a form of payment for cars.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 15, 2021 00:11 UTC
Journalists at the forefront
In good times and especially bad, a responsible press is the pillar of a vibrant democracy. He made the announcement at the National Press Day ceremony in Jakarta on Feb 9. The moral of the story is, in good times and especially bad, a responsible press is the pillar of a vibrant democracy. Press freedom is a utopia to some but a critical ingredient for any nation. It is about time we revive our National Press Day.
Source:The Star
February 15, 2021 00:11 UTC
Artist with a heart puts coffee waste to good use
For Ipoh-based contemporary artist, Chan Karwai, the relaxed sipping of Ipoh white coffee at a local cafe has allowed her to create her maiden artwork using coffee grinds, which is usually thrown away. “My interest in the coffee shop waste was piqued when I had a conversation with the owner, who then gave me some dried coffee waste to experiment as material for creating art, ” said Chan, who operates her studio in Ipoh, which incidentally, is also considered home to the this special blend of coffee that is roasted in a manner to produce whitish looking beans, hence the moniker “white coffee”. “Prior to using coffee waste, I last used charcoal to produce an image of (the late) George Floyd in homage to the Black Lives Matter movement, ” said Chan, who is famous for her oil paintings of various celebrities, especially Formula One drivers. In her maiden coffee art piece, Chan used coffee grinds of various sizes to replicate the hibiscus plant featured on the iconic Nanyang coffee cup and saucer set commonly found in Chinese coffee shops. The coffee grind is set on a piece of wooden board using glue, with varying layers to create a near three-dimensional impression when viewed up close.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2021 23:15 UTC
‘Use funds and go digital’
JEMPOL: Traders should make full use of funds provided by the government to market their products online, says Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (pic). He said while the movement control order was being enforced, traders should use all possible opportunities to generate income. The Risda AET project was initiated to encourage entrepreneurship and help increase smallholders’ income through product, marketing and knowledge delivery. Zafrul later officiated at the Digital and Multimedia Learning Programme Centre here, which provides Internet facilities for home teaching and learning (PdPR) needs. “The centre began operating last week to specially cater to families with several school-aged children who lack devices for learning via PdPR.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2021 23:03 UTC
Econ4.0: Are you receptive to RCEP?
The receptive response to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Asean should take a bow because the RCEP was conceived in 2011 at the Asean Summit in Bali. Foreign service providers (FSPs) who offer digital services to consumers need to be registered as foreign registered persons (FRPs). It was an initiative between Alibaba, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Malaysia-based Fusionex, which powers the DFTZ eServices Platform. And, finally, RCEP may facilitate technology transfer that would otherwise not occur, enabling SMEs to get into international trade.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
Digital Fashion: Automating sartorial choices
“For many years, I didn’t like shopping or trying to figure out what the current fashion trend was,” she says. Instead, she did her research and backed up her assumptions with statistics, the main one being that women spend more than 90 hours a year shopping for fashion items. Her idea has caught on and more than 20,000 women have signed up for the service, she tells Digital Edge. The fashion tech start-up needed a proprietary technology platform. In the personal styling business, finding the right talent is crucial, Delhumeau points out.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
Cover Story: Up close and personal
And this has resulted in hyperpersonalisation, which displays content, product and service information that is relevant to users. For Diwali last year, Mondelez India developed India’s first hyperpersonalised video advertisement for Cadbury Celebrations using geotagging and real-time location data. The aim of hyperpersonalisation, says Agrawal, is for customers to be treated as individuals. “This ensures that Spotify users are able to quickly access the right content at the right time for their individual needs, without taking a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Talwar. However, the initial shock of the Covid-19 pandemic forced organisations to adopt physical distancing, test their business continuity plan and rapidly deploy work-from-home models, all while customers rushed to digital channels.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
Relationships: Finding love with the help of technology
Meanwhile, Goh points out that in terms of initiating relationships, technology helps. “Imagine that you are excited you have your brand-new account on your dating app and begin swiping away one evening. “People have reported much success in finding their partners with the help of technology. “I remember a friend telling me she would never go on a dating app because ‘she’s not that desperate yet’. People fell in love over text messages, voice calls and video calls.”In terms of maintenance, she says technology has done wonders for long-distance relationships.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
Lebanon's Hariri sees no way out of crisis without Arab support
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese Prime Minister designate Saad al-Hariri on Sunday said that his country could not be rescued from its current crisis without the support of Arab countries and the international community. A U.N. backed tribunal in December convicted a Hezbollah member of conspiring to kill Rafik al-Hariri in a 2005 bombing. Under a sectarian power-sharing system, Lebanon's president must be a Maronite Christian and the prime minister a Sunni Muslim. President Aoun is an ally of Hezbollah, listed as a terrorist group by the United States. France has been spearheading efforts to rescue Lebanon from its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2021 15:45 UTC
Highlights: Australian Open day seven
"If it's any other tournament than a Grand Slam, I would withdraw from the event, for sure," Djokovic said. Djokovic faces Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals after the German advanced with a clinical 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 victory over Dusan Lajovic. Highlights of day seven of the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park on Sunday. 1615 KARATSEV STUNS AUGER-ALIASSIME IN FIVE-SET EPICRussian qualifier Aslan Karatsev erased a two-set deficit to beat Canada's 20th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 3-6 1-6 6-3 6-3 6-4. At 35, Hsieh will be the oldest player to make a Grand Slam quarter-final debut in the open era when she plays Naomi Osaka later this week.
Source:The Star
February 14, 2021 14:05 UTC